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A Morganton man involved in a highway fatality in
Lenoir almost two years ago has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in
Caldwell County. The man, Ray Anthony Rutherford, accepted a state-offered plea
agreement. The accident occurred on July 23, 2005 when a single-vehicle
accident killed a passenger in a Honda Accord. Ruthorford was originally
charged with felony death by vehicle, driving while impaired and reckless
driving to endanger. After waiving his right to a trial by jury, he was
sentenced to no less than 114 months and no more than 146 months in the
custody.